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mfancher · 08-04-2012, 06:42 PM

Visited 2 CAT dealers
Had a broken schraeder valve in valve stem
3 instances of elevated coolant temperature

What we learned:
Question your CAT dealer on EVERYTHING he does and does not do
Think outside the box on what you may need while on the road (without a toad)
Dont count on your cell phone or GPS, It will fail you when you need it the most.
Buy a copy of Trailer LIfe, and look for the smaller parks.
You can count on KOA to be a nice park, but a few more dollars.
Do not attempt to clean your radiator and aftercooler! The CAT dealers have high pressure steam and degreaser that does not damage any fins, and in my opinion, is the ONLY way to really get to ALL of the area.
We found that decent WiFi in the parks was very difficult to come by. (Dont even think about Netflix)
Careful in the Walmart parking lots, people will box you in no matter where you park. Go way out there.
You can usually boondock in the front of a Flying J. Avoid the truck parking area at Pilot, Very noisy and busy.

masseyfarm · 08-05-2012, 12:58 PM

Sounds like a standard holiday, visiting all the repair shops on the way.

You had more overheat problems after you cleaned the rad?

If you only use garden hose pressure, or less? (my pressure is about 40# here) and use degreaser and be carefull, you should not bend the fines on the rad. I have had no real problems. (temp ran up on a trip in 2009 in 39*C = 102F on the long East pull out of Osoyoos, BC. 49.009582,-119.411007 - Google Maps
I just geared down to keep the RPM at 2000, shut down the AC, and kept moving.

I have, since that time, installed a two-way vent on each side to assist in air movement over the batteries/exhaust area, and the AC Condensor/engine area.

Dave